Needle-vibrating mechanism for sewing machines



F. F. ZEIER 2,329,681

NEEDLE-VIBRATING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINES Sept. 14, 1943.

Filed March 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 eier - gmvmlfab fr z ede icb 1 2 akkozwtyk Sept. 14, 1943. F. F. ZEIER 2,329,681

NEEDLE-VIBRATING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 19', 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 S p 4, 1943. F, F. ZEIER NEEDLE-VIBRATING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINES F ied March 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet s SeDLr14, 1943. i Z I 2,329,681

NEEDLE-VIBRATING MECHANISMS FOR swim MACHINES Filed March 19. 1941 s Shee ts-Sheet 4 Sept 14, 1943. F. F, ZEIER 2,329,61

NEEDLE-YI BRATING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 1.9, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Patented Sept. 14, 1943 NEEDLE-VIBRATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Frederick F. Zeicr, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elilabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 19, 1941, Serial No. 384,054

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, and it is concerned more particularly with mechanism adapted to vibrate the needle transversely of its normal path of reciprocation.

In accepted sewing machine design, it has been reciprocatory needle-bar in spaced bearings provided in a swinging frame fulcrumed upon a suitable pivot-stud projecting from the machinehead. In some cases the pivot-stud is provided at the extreme upper end of the swinging frame,

while in other cases the pivot-stud is provided at the extreme lower end of the swinging'frame. In each of these cases the connections employed for swinging the needle-bar-frame about its pivotstud engage the needle-bar-frame at the end oprendering it more, difllcult to properly handle the material being sewn and in increasing the fatigue of the operator.

The excessive vibration developed in these prior constructions resulted from the concentration of the combined weights or masses of the needlebar-frame and the needle-bar journaled therein common practice to Journal the usual endwise arm and head, showing the connections for vion one side of the fulcrum-axis of the frame.

With the weights of these elements so proportioned the inertia effect created by the oscillation of needle-bar-frame and needle-bar above a nominal speed increased materially and to the extent that at speeds over 3000 stitches per minaccompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages at- 15 Claims. (Cl. 112-213) tained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. t

v In the drawings which show by way of illustration two embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view 01' a sewing machine embodying the invention with the head and part of the bracket-arm in section, showing the pivotal support for the needle-bar-frame and the mechanism for endwise reciprocating the needle-bar.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevational view with the bed in section to show the lower'stitch-forming mechanism and the lower four-motion feeding mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the bracketarm and head, showing the connections for raising the two presser bars.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the bracket-arm and head, showing the presserbar spring arrangement.

Refering more in detail to the drawings, the invention is embodied in a sewing machine having a frame comprising. a bed I from one end of which rises a standard 2 of an overhanging bracket-arm 3 terminating in a head '4. Journaled for rotation in ball-bearings 5 and 6 is a mainor arm-shaft I carrying at its outer end the usual belt-driven balance-wheel 8 and at its inner end a counterbalanced needle-bar actuating crank 9. Fast upon the arm-shaft I within the bracket-arm 3 is a belt-pulley l0 connected by a. clip-belt II to a second belt-pulley lzfast upon the outer end of a lower mainor bedshaft I3 journaled for rotation in the bed I, the ratio between the belt-pulleys l0 and It being one-to-one. Actuated by the bed-shaft l3 are the usual four-motion work-feeding mechanism including a feed-dog H and the looper mechanism including threaded chain-stitch loopersl5. For the sake ofvbrevityadetailed descrip- .my copending application Serial No; 316,297,

filed Jan; 30, 1940-and which matured into Patant No. 2,312,858, March 2, 1943. It will suffice to say that, in the looper mechanism disclosed in the drawings, the looper 5 is preferably of the two-motion type having loop-seizing and -shedding movements only in the line of feed, the looper advancing to seize the needle-loop in a direction opposed to the direction of feed.

Referring now to the mechanism within the machine-head 4, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be seen in Fig. 1 that the needlebar actuating crank 9 is provided with a crankpin l6 having preferably mounted thereon two needle-bearings snugly received in the apertured upper end of a tubular link I8 maintained on the crank-pin l6 by a washer l9 and a capscrew 20. The lower end of the link I8 is apertured to receive a pin 2| integral with a split collar 22 clamped upon the usual needle-bar 23. Carried at the lower end of the needle-bar 23 is a suitable needle-clamp 24 having mounted therein needles 25. Through the mechanism just described the needle-bar 23 is reciprocated endwise in proper timed relation with the complemental loopers IE to produce chain-stitches. The needle-bar 23 i journaled in bearing bushings 26 and 21 provided in the spaced arms 28 and 29 of a substantially C-shaped'needlebar-frame 30 formed preferably of aluminium or other lightweight material and provided with a horizontally projecting fulcrum-rod 3| having pinned thereon to rotate therewith a wearresistant sleeve 32 mounted for oscillation in an extended lug 33 preferably formed integral with v the machine-head 4. In order to minimize vibrat-ion and also the effort required to oscillatethe needle-bar-frame 30 and the needle-bar 23 journaled therein, it is desirable that the fulcrum-rod 3| be located so that its longitudinal axis substantially coincides with the center of the combined mass of the needle-bar-frame and needle-bar. In the machine illustrated, the axis of the fulcrum-rod 3| coincides with the center of the combined mass of the needle-bar-frame and the needle-bar when the latter is at the bottom portion of its work-penetrating stroke, or when feeding of the work is taking place. This is advantageous for the reason that at the time of greatest strain on the needle-vibrating mechanism, the combined weight of the needle-bar-frame and needle-bar is equally distributed on opposite sides of the axis of the fulcrum-rod 3|, thus minimizing the moment of inertia to be overcome by the needle-bar vibrating eccentric 4|. To support the needle-barframe 30 rigidly the sleeve 32 and the lug 33 are preferably made relatively long, see Fig. 1. In addition to providing a rigid support for the needle-bar-frame the. relatively long bearing simplifies the construction of the frame 30 in that it obviates the use of supplemental guiding means for preventing the cramping of the frame 30 on its fulcrum-rod.

The needle-bar-frame 30 in the machine illustrated is oscillated in timed relation with the four-motion feed-dog 4 through mechanism comprising a rearwardly and upwardly curved rock-lever 34 preferably clamped at its lower end by screws 35 upon the reduced end-portion of the fulcrum-rod 3|. At its upper end the rock-lever 34 projects through a suitable clearance opening (Fig. 3) provided in a sheet-metal cover-plate .36 adapted to close the openings 31 formed in the rear wall of the bracket-arm 3.

Connected to actuate the upper end of the rocklever 34 is one end of a relatively short pitman 38 formed at its other end with a strap 39 embracing the outer race of a conventional needlebearing 40 mounted upon an adjustable eccentric 4| secured to rotate with the arm-shaft I. In order that the mechanism employed for oscillating the needle-bar-frame may be compactly arranged thereby to not encroach upon the work-handling space beneath the bracket-arm 3, the rock-lever 34 is curved upwardly so that it may be arranged in close proximity to the machine-head 4, and the adjustable eccentric 4| is disposed adjacent the needle-bar actuating crank 93. It will be understood that as the armshaft 1 is-rotated the eccentric 4| actuates the pitman 38 which in turn operates the rock-lever 34 to oscillate the needle-bar-frame about the axi of the fulcrum-rod 3|. The extent of oscillatory movement imparted to the needle-barframe is dependent upon the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric 4|, and in order to vary the amplitude of the oscillatory movements of the needle-bar-frame to harmonize the same with the stitch-length to which the lower feeding mechanism is set. the eccentric 4| is made adjustable. No detailed description of the constructive features of the adjustable eccentric 4| shown in the drawings will be herein given for the reason that the same is fully described in'the U. S. patent to W. Myers, No. 2,128,031, dated Aug. 23, 1938.

To efiect adjustment of the eccentric 4| the top of the bracket-arm 3 has mounted therein a detent 42, the details of construction of which are similar to those illustrated in the U. S. patent to W. Myers, No. 2,063,264, dated Dec. 8, 1936. When it is desired to adjust the amplitude of oscillation ofthe needle-bar-frame 30 the detent 42 is depressed until the inner end thereof enters a stop-notch 43 in the adjusting-member 44 of the eccentric 4|, after which if desired the detent can be partly rotated and locked in depressed position. With the adjusting-member 44 of the eccentric. thus latched against turning, suitable manual turning of the arm-shaft I will effect the desired adjustment of the eccentric 4|.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be observed that there is journaled for endwise movement in spaced lugs 45 and 46 on the machinehead 4 a presser-bar 41 carrying at its lower end a presser-foot 48. The presser-bar 41 is springbiased toward the work-support by one end of a leaf-spring 49 which extends lengthwise of the bracket-arm 3 and is secured at its other end by a screw 50 to the bracket-arm. The pressure applied by the leaf-spring 49 is controlled by an adjusting screw 5| threaded into the bracketarm 3 and at its, lower end engaging the leafspring 49. To prevent the presser-bar 41 from turning in its supporting lugs 45 and 46, the presser-bar has clamped thereon adjacent its upper end a split collar 52 formed with a rearwardly extending guide-arm 53, the free end of which extends into a guide-slot 54 provided in the rear wall of the machine-head 4. In addition to preventing the presser-bar. 4'! from turning, the guide-arm 53, through the medium of its clamping screw 55,overlies the usual hand-controlled presser-foot lifting lever 56 pivotally mounted upon the presser-bar lug 45.

Treadle-controlled means is also provided for raising and lowering the presser-foot. This means, in part, is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Pivotally mounted upon a stud 51 threaded into the rear wall of the machine-head 4 is a rock-lever 58 connected to be actuated by a link 59 from suitable treadle or knee-shift mechanism (not shown). Also connected to the rock-lever 58 is a depending link 60 having an enlarged lower end which is apertured, as at 6|, to receive the free end of the presser-bar guide-arm 63. Connected between the lower end of the depending link 60 and the machine-head 4 is a coil-spring 62 which yieldingly maintains the depending link 60 in contact with a stop-pin 63 whenthe presser-bar is lowered.

v FY It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the machine-' 1 frame is preferably designed so that the head '4 may be machined and the mechanism assembled within the same separatelyfrom the remainder of the frame and when completed attached as a unit to the free end of the bracket-arm 3.- In the present machine the head 4 is adapted to be attached to the bracket-arm 3 by fastening screws 64 and locating pins 65. A suitably shaped face-cover 66 is mounted upon the open face of the machine-head 4 to enclose the mechanism within the head. The machine-head disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is fitted with a single needle-bar and a single presser-foot, the single needle-bar being preferable when the stitching operation to be performed by the machine requires the use of a; single needle or a plurality of needles in which the distance or gauge between the two' outermost needles is relatively small.

When the gauge between the outermost needles becomes considerable it is desirable to use a plurality of needle-bars journaledin laterally spaced gral therewith a pin 15. Clamped to the needleban'6l is a split collar 16 having integral therewith a sleeve 11 adapted telescopically to receive the pin 15. Externally "embracing the sleeve I1 is the apertured lower end 18 of the needle-bar actuating link l8. It will be obvious from the above description that a connection is provided between the two needle-bars which is composed of a plurality of interfltting parts having sumcient lost motion between them to automatically compensate for any slight degree of non-parallelism of the axes of the two needle-bars 61 and 68. The use of such a connection simplifies the machining operations required to produce the two pairs of needle-bar hearings in the frame 89.

Journaled for endwise movement in bearings provided in the. machine-head 4 rearwardly of the needle-bars Hand 68 are two presser-bars I9 and 80 adapted to carry at the lower ends separate. presser-feet "(not' shown). Both of the presser-bars l9 and 80 arespring-biased toward the work-support; presser-bar 19 being acted upon by one end of a leaf-spring 8| which expresser-bar 80 being acted upon by one end of hearings in the, machine-head, for the reason i that the multiple needle-bars effectively steady the needle-clamp against turning without requiring the use of the more or less complicated needleclamp steadying means necessarily employed heretofore on prior machines having only a single needle-bar. Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, disclose a machine-head 4 fitted with two needle-bars and two presser-bars, the head shown being adapted to be attached to the bracket-arm 8 in a manner similar to that employed for attaching the single I needle-bar head'to the bracket-arm.

Referring to Fig. 5 the two needle-bars 61 and 68 are journaled for endwise reciprocation in a substantially U-shaped frame as supported by the machine-head 4. The right-hand vertical limb of the U-shaped frame 68 is formed with the fulcrum-rod 3! having fixed thereon, as in the machine illustrated in Fig. i, the sleeve 32 journaled in the extended supporting lug 33 integral with themachine-head i. Clamped upon the reduced end-portion of the fulcrum-rod 3i is the rock-lever 3d actuated by the adjustable eccentric ll to oscillate the needle-bar frame 69 in timed relation with the lower work-feeding mechanism. To steady and additionally support the needle-bar-frame as, the left-hand vertical limb is formed with a second fulcrum-rod iii disposed in axial alinement with the fulcrum-rod 8i and having pinned thereon to rotate therewith a wear-resistant sleeve ll journaled in a bearing provided in a bracket l2 attached by screws E3 to the face of the machine-head d. The needle-bars bl and 6B are reciprocated endwise in their respective limbs of the needle-barthe needle-bar 68 is a split collar i l having intea second leaf-spring 82 which also extends lengthwise of the bracket-arm 3 and is secured at its other end by a screw 83 to the bracket-arm. The pressure applied by the leaf-springs is controlled by two adjusting screws 84 and 85 threaded into the bracket-arm 3 and at their lower ends engaging their respective leaf-springs. To

prevent the presser-bars' .19 and 80 from turning in their bearings they have clamped thereon collars 86 and 81 formed with rearwardly extending vertically split guide-arms 88 and 89, the free ends of which extend into guide-slots 90 and 9| provided in the rear wall of the machinehead 4.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be observed that the free ends of the guide-arms 88 and 89 preferably project sufficiently beyond the rearwall of the machine-head 4 to overlie the opposite ends of the horizontal limb 92 of an inverted T-shaped member 93 connected at its upper end to the rock-lever 58 which, as previously described, is pivotally mounted upon the stud El. and connected to a suitable treadle or knee-shift mechanism, whereby the presser-bars l9 and 8d may be manually raised. In addition to this presser lifting mechanism, there is provided the usual hand-controlled presser-foot lifting lever 9% which is preferably pivoted at its upper end on a screw 95 threaded in a lug 9d integral with the machine-head d. When the lifting lever 96 is raised the cam-section on the .upper end thereof engages the inverted T-shaped member 93 and through the horizontal limb Q2 thereof raises the two presser-bars l9 and 8d. The inverted T-shaped member 93 is normally maintained in yielding contact with the camsection of the lifting lever 9% by a coil-spring 9i acting between the member Q3 and the machinehead ii. To limit the height to which the presserbars may be elevated there is provided upon the machine-head i an adjustable stop 98 which may be set to limit vertical movement of the presserbar guide-arm 89 in the guide-slot 9!.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention contemplates a needle-bar- .frame vibrating mechanism which maybe operated at very high rates of speed with no overthrow and wherein the shocks incident to the rapid starting and stopping of the needle-bar It will be observed in 1 and 5, that the head 4 is a complete unit capable of being produced as a separate assembly and applied to any one of a plurality of bracket-arms differing in length or shape. The head-assembly comprises a housing having a pair of vertically spaced bearing apertures of which the upper one is fitted with the ball-bearing 5 and the lower one is fitted with the bearing sleeve 32. ,It will be understood that the needle-bar-frame 30 and its fulcrum-rod 3| can be inserted in the lower bearing aperture in the head and that the hub of the needle-bar crank 9 can be inserted into the ballbearing 5, after which all the needle-bar-actuating mechanism can be assembled properly within the head 4. The head-assembly can be readily applied to the selected bracket-arm by means of the fastening screws 64 and the locating pin 65.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what I claim herein is:

1. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, a rotary shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, a needlebar, a needle carried thereby, means including a crank mounted on said rotary shaft for endwise reciprocating said needle-bar, a needle-barframe disposed within said head and provided with at least one bearing in which said needlebar is endwise slidable, a fulcrum-rod journaled in the lower portion of said head-and supporting said needle-bar-frame for oscillatable movements about an axis substantially coinciding with a line passing through the center of mass of said needle-bar-frame and the needle-bar endwise slidable therein when the latter is at the lower end of its stroke, an actuating eccentric fast on said rotary shaft adjacent the crank mounted thereon, a rock-lever secured at its lower end upon said fulcrum-rod and extending upwardly in close proximity to the head thereby to not encroach upon the work-handling space beneath said bracket-arm, and a pitman-connection between said eccentric and said rock-lever.

2. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said frame, a plurality of endwise reciprocatory needle-bars, needles carried thereby, an oscillatory needle-bar-frame fulcrumed on said head and providing bearings in which said needle-bars are endwise slidable, means for oscillating said needle-bar-frame about its fulcrum, and means connecting said needle-bars to said actuating shaft for reciprocation thereby, said means including a pair of elements telescopically arranged and secured to said needle-bars.

3. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said frame, a pair of endwise reciprocating needle-bars sustained by said head, needles carried thereby, a pin secured on one of said needle-bars, a sleeve secured on the other of said needle-bars and arranged telescopically to receive said pin, a link embracing said sleeve,- and means connecting said link to said actuating shaft for imparting reciprocations to said needle-bars.

4. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, an oscillatory needle-bar-frame fulcrumed on said head and having upstanding limbs provided with bearings, means for oscillating said needle-bar-frame, a pair of spaced needle-bars endwise reciprocable in said needle-bar frame bearings, needles carried by said needle-bars, a needle-bar driving link operatively connected at one end to said actuating shaft, and a connection including a pair of elements telescopically arranged for operatively securing the other end of said needle-bar-driving link to said pair of needle-bars.

5. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a, head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, an oscillatory needle-bar-frame fulcrumed on said head and having upstanding limbs provided with bearings, means for oscillating said needlebar-frame, a pair of spaced needle-bars endwise reciprocable in said needle-bar-frame bearings, needles carried by said needle-bars, a pin secured on one of said needle-bars, a sleeve secured on the other of said needle-bars and arranged to telescopically receive said pin, a link embracing the external surface of said sleeve, and means connecting said link to said actuating shaft for imparting reciprocation to said needle-bars.

6. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, a plurality of endwise reciprocatory needle-bars, needles carried thereby, a needle-bar-frame having upstanding limbs providing hearings in which said needle-bars are endwise slidable, fulcrumrods secured to the upstanding limbs of said needle-bar-frame and disposed in alinement with one another to support the needle-bar-frame on said head for oscillatable movements about a horizontal axis, and means operated by said actuating shaft for oscillating said needle-barframe about its supporting fulcrum-rods.

7. A sewing machine havinga frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head formed with a pair of laterally spaced bearings, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, a pair of laterally spaced endwise reciprocatory needlebars, needles carried thereby, a needle-bar frame formed with a pair of upstanding limbs providing bearings for said needle-bars, fulcrum-rods j ournaled in the laterally spaced bearings in said head and secured to said needle-bar-frame to support the same for oscillatable movements about an axis substantially coinciding with a line passing through the center of mass of the needle-barframe and the needle-bars journaled therein, and means operated by said actuating shaft for oscillating said needle-bar-frame about its supporting fulcrum-rods.

8. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, a pair of laterally spaced endwise reciprocatory needlebars, needles carried thereby, means including a pair of telescopically arranged elements secured to said needle-bars for connecting said needlebars to said actuating shaft for reciprocation thereby, a substantially U-shaped needle-barframe formed with bearings in its respective limbs in which said needle-bars are endwise slidable, a fulcrum-rod journaled in said frame .rod for oscillating said needle-bar-frame about its supporting fulcrum rod.

9. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head formed with a pair of laterally spaced bearings, a rotary shaft journaled in said bracket-arm lengthwise thereof, an oscillatory needle-bar-frame disposed within said head, a pair of in-line-fulcrum-rods.

secured to said needle-'bar-frame and journaled in the laterally spaced bearings in said head,

said fulcrum-rods supporting said needle-barframe for oscillatable movements about an axis arranged substantially parallel with the axis of said rotary shaft, means operatively connected to said rotary shaft and including a connection secured to one of said fulcrum-rods for oscillat-' ing said needle-,bar-frame about its fulcrum axis, a pair of laterally spaced needle-bars endwise reciprocable in said needle-bar-frame, and means for reciprocating said needle-bars, said lastnamed means including a link actuated by said rotary shaft and operable in the space between the two laterally spaced needle-bars. I

10. A- sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head formed with a bearing,. a bracket secured to said head and having formed therein a bearing in alinement with the bearing in said head, an oscillatory needle-bar-frame disposed within said head, a. pair of in-line fulcrum-rods secured to said needle-bar-frame and journaled in the aforementioned allned bearings, means including a connection secured to one of said fulcrum-rods for oscillating said needle-bar-frame about its fulcrum axis, a pair of needle-bars endwise reciprocable in said needIe-b'ar-frame, needles carried thereby, and means for reciprocating said needle-bars.

11. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in ahead, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, a needleebar, a needle carried thereby, means including a crank mounted on said actuating shaft for endwise reciprocating said needle-bar, a needle-bar-frame disposed within said head below the level of said actuating shaft and provided with at least one bearing in which said needle-bar is endwise slidable, a fulcrum-rod journaled in said head and supporting said needle-bar-frame for oscillatable movements about an axis coinciding with the center of mass of said needle-bar-frame and needle-bar when the latter is at the bottom of its stroke, means including a lever secured to said fulcrum-rod for oscillating said needle-bar-frame about its supporting fulcrum-rod, and an eccentric mounted on said actuating shaft adjacent said head for imparting operative movements to said last named means.

12. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm, a needle-bar, a needle carried thereby, means including a crank mounted "n said actuating shaft for endwise reciprocating aid needle-bar, a needle-bar-frame disposed within said head and provided with at least one bearing in which said needle-bar is endwise slidable, a fulcrum-rod ciding with the center of mass of said needlebar-frame and needle bar when the latter is at the lower end of its stroke, an eccentric fast on said actuating shaft adjacent the crank mounted thereon, a lever secured at one end to said fulcrum-rod and extending toward said actuating shaft in close proximity to said head, and a pitman connecting the other end of said lever to said eccentric, the joint between said lever and pitman being located within the confines of said bracket-arm.

13. A sewing machine having a frame includ-- ing a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm and projecting .into said head, a needle-bar, a needle carried thereby, means including a; crank mounted on that portion of said actuating shaft projecting into said head for endwise reciprocating said needle-bar, a needle-bar-frame disposed within said head below the level of said actuating shaft and provided with at least one bearing in which said needle-bar is endwise slidable, a fulcrum-rod journaled in said head and supporting said needle-bar frame for oscillation about an axisarranged beneath the level of and parallel with the axis of said actuating shaft, an eccentric fast on said actuating shaft adjacent the crank mounted thereon, a lever secured at its lower end to said fulcrum-rod and extending upwardly in close proximity to the head thereby to not encroach upon the work-handling space beneath said bracket-arm, and a pitman connecting the upper end of said lever to said ecceni in a sewing machine having a bracket-arm provided with an actuating shaft, including, a housing having a plurality of spaced bearing apertures formed therein, a crank journaled in one of said bearing apertures and adapted to be operatively connected to saidactuating shaft, a fulcrum-rod journaled in another of said bearing apertures, a needle-bar-frame disposed within said housing and supported by said fulcrumrod, a needle-bar journaled for endwise reciprocation in said needle-bar-frame, and means connecting said crank to said needle-bar for reciprocating the same.

15. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a head, an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm andprojecting into said head, a needle-bar, a needle carried thereby, a crank mounted on that portion of said actuating shaft projecting into said head, a needle-bar-frame disposed within said head and provided with a pair of spaced bearings in which said needle-bar is endwise slidable, a fulcrum rod sustained by said head and supporting said needle-bar-frame for oscillation about an axis arranged beneath the level of the axis of said actuating shaft, a link connected at one end to said crank and at its other end to said needle-bar between the spaced hearings on said needle-bar-frame, an eccentric fast on said actuating shaft adjacent the crank mounted thereon, a lever secured at one end to said fulcrumrod and extending upwardly in close proximity to the wall defining the machine head, and a pitman connecting the upper end of said leve.

to said eccentric. 1

FREDERICK F. ZEIER. 

